8 Companies Increasing Dividends

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Companies Increasing DividendsVolatility in the equity markets is back, as stocks continue their quick reactions to the myriad news events and developments coming out of Europe. Sharp selloffs and big price spikes occurred throughout the week, much to the delight of swing traders.

For investors, and particularly for income investors, the week also saw some very big names boosting their payouts to shareholders, including several large retail and industrial firms. Eight companies made it onto our Companies Increasing Dividends list this week. Here they are:

As the largest owner of life science real estate, Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE) collects big rents from its tenants. This week, the REIT returned some of that rent to shareholders in the form of a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to 51 cents per share. The new payout will be made on July 16 to shareholders of record as of June 29. The new dividend yield, based on the June 12 closing price of $69.36 (the day the dividend was announced), is 2.94%.

Convenience market operator Casey’s General Stores (NASDAQ:CASY) stocked shareholder shelves with a 10% higher quarterly payout to 16.5 cents per share. The dividend increase came despite quarterly earnings that missed Wall Street estimates. The new dividend is payable Aug. 15 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 1. The new dividend yield, based on the June 12 closing price of $59.91, is 1.1%.

Iconic construction and mining equipment maker Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) dug into its fiscal mountain and unearthed a 13% higher dividend to 52 cents per share. The pumped up payload will be delivered on Aug. 20 to shareholders of record as of July 20. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $85.29, is 2.44%.

Medical device maker and Dependable Dividend Stock C.R. Bard Inc. (NYSE:BCR) sells products for vascular, urology and oncology applications. This week, the company fashioned a fiscal device for shareholders that boosted its payout 5% to 20 cents per share. The new dividend is payable Aug. 3 to shareholders of record as of July 23. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $99.44, is 0.8%. C.R. Bard has been paying dividends every year since 1960.

Diversified energy provider DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) serves clients in the state of Michigan, and this week the Great Lakes-based company moved to add more fiscal water to shareholders’ ponds. The new dividend of 62 cents per share represents a 5.5% boost from the prior quarterly dividend. The new payout will be made Oct. 15 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 17. The new dividend yield, based on the June 14 closing price of $59.47, is 4.17%.

Industrial controls manufacturing giant Rockwell Automation (NYSE:ROK) turned up the dial on its quarterly dividend, lifting its payout 11% to 47 cents per share. The newly increased dividend is payable Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 13. The new dividend yield, based on the June 8 closing price of $69.87, is 2.69%. Separately, the company’s board approved the addition of $1 billion to its share repurchase program. This is in addition to the previous buyback authorization of $1 billion.

Cheap-chic retail behemoth Target (NYSE:TGT) increased the price it pays to shareholders by 20% to 36 cents per share. The new dividend price tag will be marked up on Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 15. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $58.05, is 2.48%. This payout represents the 180th consecutive quarter the company has paid dividends since it went public in 1967, putting it squarely on our list of Dependable Dividend Stocks.

Industrial conglomerate United Technologies (NYSE:UTX) is the parent company of jet engine maker Pratt & Whitney, Otis elevator, Sikorsky Aircraft and several other companies. This week, the diversified firm declared a new quarterly dividend of 53.5 cents per share, which represents an 11.5% increase over the prior payout. The new dividend will be delivered Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 17. The new dividend yield, based on the June 13 closing price of $73.54, is 2.91%.

As of this writing, Jim Woods did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned stocks. For more payout winners, see previous weeks’ lists of Companies Increasing Dividends.


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2012/06/8-companies-increasing-dividends-2/.

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